Longlegs Ending Explained: Maika Monroe & Oz Perkins Interview (SPOILERS)

[Editor's note: The following contains spoilers for Longlegs.]
If you were in the market for a nightmarish film that would burrow its way into your brain and leave an evil smoke-filled orb there, you got just that via Longlegs. Yes, Oz Perkins’ latest is a mighty satisfying sinister mystery, but it’s also one that leaves you with questions that are tough to shake. Questions like, what exactly happens to someone when their doll and orb are shattered? What does the future hold for Maika Monroe’s Lee Harker after what she’s been through? Did she vanquish the evil by stopping the pattern, or will it continue to follow her forever?
In the film, Lee manages to connect the dots. Longlegs (Nicolas Cage) kills by creating dolls with a highly unusual brain, an orb that packs the power to influence those near it. But how does he get the doll into his victims’ homes? That’s where Lee’s own mother (Alicia Witt) comes in. She’s Longlegs’ accomplice. Ruth agreed to help Longlegs in exchange for Lee’s life. Posing as a nun, she delivers these deadly dolls as gifts from the church, and the next recipient on her list is Ruby, the daughter of Lee’s superior at the FBI, Agent Carter (Blair Underwood). Lee manages to save Ruby, but must kill both Agent Carter and her mother in the process. Before leaving the house, Lee attempts to shoot Ruby’s doll, but her gun doesn’t fire.
What does it mean? An eight-minute interview was nowhere near enough time to parse through it all, but Perkins and Monroe did offer up some very curious insight that’s bound to make your head spin in the best possible way. Hear it straight from them in the video above, or you can read the spoiler-filled interview in the transcript below.
#longlegs #spoiler #interview #neon #movie
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[@5creams]

perfect post-watch interview

[@Polymorphia1965]

Excellent interview(!) and I am so, so glad to see Perkins getting the kind of attention and appreciation that he's always deserved. I'm hoping the success of this film will give studios the confidence to invest in and support his future projects and give him the freedom to simply do his own thing. His name deserves a place with other strong voices in the genre such as Aster, Eggers and Flanagan.

[@nugget_rave8457]

I was so disturbed after watching that movie, but I also kept thinking about how brilliantly the movie was made to create that feeling of unease. This was kind of healing to watch immediately after viewing because HOLY MOLY!…

[@lucienovakova5298]

OMG exactly the same ... I am still shocked :D

[@thomastorres428]

I took the name Longlegs to mean it's what a serpent would call itself in human form because serpent = no legs. If serpent gots legs serpent say I got longlegs. He says at the beginning "Today I wore my long legs"

[@DARKgirafa]

It was also a joke, he brought his longlegs meaning he has to squat to talk to the kids, but you can also look at it as, he's got "longlegs" because he's got a direct connection that reaches all the way into the underworld (Satan) but he also gets to come up to the surface in the real world to carry out the devil's work, hence longlegs.

[@dix0nc0unty]

oh i was just thinking the title was connected to all the stuff with the fathers and the upside triangle. and was kinda thinking how longlegs was almost as a dad to lee

[@lakenflanagan2249]

Wonderful interview Perri, as always! This gave more depth to an already amazing film

[@Neverender6]

I like his description of "going through the door" of Silence of the Lambs but then opening up to a different landscape. About a quarter way through this movie I was getting concerned that it was seeming pretty derivative of Silence of the Lambs, but that concern faded as the movie went on. It also bears a lot of resemblance to the film Cure, but in the end I think it settles in a good place where it is certainly a lot "like" those two movies but still new and interesting enough to be well worth a watch.

[@SM-ce1uy]

Did you also get notes of The Omen and The Shining from it? I did

[@michaelcallander7085]

​@@SM-ce1uy I really got The Shining vibes from the editing and sound design of the first scene before the title card comes up.

[@seancorrigan7448]

Great interview. Truly unnerving film. Nicolas Cage was a trip!

[@keennneth]

"not my problem" 🤣🤣🤣

[@jordancorona7532]

Best way to put it by him, the devil doesn’t care how evil is one as long as it’s carried out, brilliant.

[@maddyG7414]

I kind of wish I hadn’t heard so much about it, how scary it was, and how good it was before I went in. The expectations made it fall a little flat for me, despite loving the style and atmosphere.

[@RachelCameron87]

I liked the movie, however ✨spoiler alert✨ I think that it was a little short sighted to not give more background to Longlegs and how he came to be. I wanna know what happened to him to propel him towards Satanism, the black-magic balls, and the doll making. Told my husband on the way home from the movie that I really hope they make a prequel and give it more substance that way. They left it wide open for that to happen, so I hope it does. 🤞🏻

[@3amnightmares]

I have been a big fan of his father for some time now. I feel bad that he had such a hard life. Poor Berry too. I wish Oz nothing but success. His brother Elvis too. Such a tragic history. I saw longlegs, was very good!

[@Jenny_Rose_]

God I never heard about Berry on 9/11 ..so sad. I grew up on Psycho and adore Anthony as well

[@chriswakefieldmusic]

I wish for a sequel called “Longlive Longlegs” and to see her story continue

[@markoneill2973]

Longerlegs

[@SM-ce1uy]

I also think a prequel works perfectlyyyy

[@JosephGiancarlo]

Prequel called growing legs

[@HassanZaheer02]

​@@SM-ce1uyYeah, I'm totally for it. Among the enduring mysteries for me is how Nick Cage got those powers? Was there more victim-turned-perpetrator before "the accomplice"? Why he end up at that place in the first place in the prologue?

[@Decide.Conquer]

Daddy Longlegs.

[@RAZR_Channel]

The 2nd Shot from Lee's Mom is Perfect...

[@venom518]

Remembering the writer/director from the character he played in Legally Blonde, I can definitely see him making Longlegs.

[@HunterAMTV]

absolutely loved this movie. going to see it again this week.

[@pb.j.1753]

Perri‘s idea about Ruby is on point. I have read a version of the script in which the ending is Ruby being an adult and continuing the work dressed up as nun, bringing dolls to families.

[@daveronhertpark7134]

I think this scene was actually filmed, then edited out. There's an actress in the Cast section of the credits for "Adult Ruby", but she never showed up.

[@visualpr3cision]

I hope we get a sequel!!!! Psycho got a few, give Longlegs some....LONGLEGS!

[@brynniefresh9746]

and we could have oz cameo in the sequel as well 😂 (he was in the second psycho movie)

[@RachelCameron87]

I think they should do a prequel and give us some backstory on Longlegs and the Satanism of it all. I enjoyed it for what it was but it was lacking depth in that regard.

[@KillBill808]

@@RachelCameron87 nahh totally defeats the mystery of it, it was pretty to the point. Imo they explained some a little too much.

[@masteronionnorth2341]

Longlegs was pretty damn unsettling and creepy. I love Osgood's style and how he crafts horror films. I didn't see that twist coming at all. It kinda of blew my mind. I wonder if Osgood will work with Maika again on anorher project. Speaking of Maika, an It Follows sequel is coming.

[@tanjabuchholz5314]

What an interesting person Osgood is!

[@sherlock.117]

I just saw it, and I wish I could’ve changed ONE thing about it. (*Spoiler alert*) I think Lee’s mother should’ve been the one taken into custody and kills herself in front of Lee, THEN Longlegs is still the main threat through to the end. She could’ve found him in the downstairs of her mom’s house, or at Agent Carter’s house during the birthday party. Imagine Longlegs sitting on that couch with them. Basically, we didn’t get enough of Longlegs. We didn’t see him do anything. I think killing him off in the climax was wasted potential, and it should’ve been a switcheroo with the mom which would’ve been more traumatizing for Lee. And more traumatizing for us to see her still trying to catch Longlegs and dealing with him up close! They needed more interaction to fulfill the connection between them. It fell flat when he was removed. The mom was a giveaway to me too. She looked, acted and sounded like she was part of it. A lot of ppl had issues with the ending, but that would’ve been my solution. They also caught Longlegs way too easily, and without explanation. Where was he going? Why was he waiting for a ride when he had a car? How did the cops find him on that random ass road? It was a big plot hole. Movie could’ve at least been longer to compensate that. But still, such a well-crafted thriller with a unique story and realistic, unsettling atmosphere. I enjoyed it.

[@bacardiparty6645]

i think they used the mother instead to get into agent Carter’s house bc Carter never would’ve let Longlegs into his house. not only does he know what long legs is and what he looks like, he’s just an interesting looking character as it is who most people wouldn’t let in the comfort of their home. it plays into the fact that bc her mom was dressed as a nun people felt comfortable letting her in. also, Carter didn’t believe there was an accomplice, so his guard was even morelet down. i liked it bc it reminded me that Longlegs was just a disposable puppet, the real evil was the devil himself.

[@KTheMariachi]

Love this take

[@WithLoveThomas]

As soon as they had a photo of him, they did the FBI "have you seen this man?" and the retail lady probably called it in. Not a plot hole, you just have to deduce. Maybe he wanted to be caught? Maybe he was getting ready to kill again. I also was disappointed he died so soon, but the fear of his presence from the underworld was damn scary, glad it ended on him. Also, it's like the shark in Jaws, if the marketing showed him and his appearance was throughout the whole movie it would've been like exposure therapy and nowhere near as scary I think.

[@jennyshoutsrawr]

Killing Longlegs last wouldn’t have made sense because he’s not the villain in this story, the devil is. That’s why they killed him off so soon.

[@versioncity1]

Maikas legs in this interview..... good lord. Longlegs indeed.

[@justingreen2432]

Ok so hear me out........this thing could be a franchise. The guys giving her the psychic test are actually a organization studying the supernatural and they recruit Harper to help in all the supernatural cases. Mr. Downstairs is always the lead antagonist but each movie has a different "monster of the week" villain. And we just get six or seven movies of Maika being socially awkward while solving case after case. Take my damn money.

[@becksaine7338]

Such an amazing interview!!!

[@maegn]

"Old father long-legs, can't say his prayers, take him by the left leg, and throw him down the stairs." You trying to tell me that Osgood Perkins never read Goosey Goose Gander? :D

[@TheFoxxsean]

I’m so interested to hear Oz talk about his moviegoing experiences with his dad, Anthony Perkins

[@jacksparrow9227]

But we never saw her as a kid and her personality before Longlegs first met her in Almost Birthday Girl

[@dr6889]

yeah that feels cheap. who is the "before 9" girl she mentions? we didnt see it in the movie.

[@Stumme-40203]

@@dr6889The opening scene where she meets Longlegs.

[@dr6889]

@@Stumme-40203 there was no character building in it unfortunately. was a 2 min scene.

[@tobicoventry7837]

I love this interview. I have a question about the film however. SPOILER ALERT! In the film, Longlegs delivers dolls to families with fathers, who then go on to commit the crimes. However, we never meet or mention Lee's father and it seems like Longlegs was told to visit their house and take a doll, despite there being no father present. So what caused the shift? Why were the remaining murders so father-driven?

[@bitethebook7650]

Maika 😍

[@chad63]

i think the meaning of long legs is due to the part where the devil always make the assailants to be the dads hence daddy long legs

[@lisagarcia8349]

Loved the movie! It was hard to get into at first to really know what’s going on then at the end obviously it makes so much sense & you just get-it! It makes you want to go back to watch again now knowing the ending. In the way people are used by God as He is a Spirit … the devil uses ppl as he too is spirit. So eye opening! Spiritual warfare is more real than one can comprehend. Excellent movie! I will watch it again! Great interview as well.

[@jennyshoutsrawr]

Same I wasn’t really paying attention at the beginning. I watched it twice and it was even better the second time!

[@coolbyrd]

Knowing Nicolas cage was long legs 😭made it not scary but funny but still greatest horror movie.

[@Vimes86]

Oh, I did not see it that way, I was thinking instead that the Devil got to them and that Lee had to do the same thing that her mom did to protect Ruby but it seems that in Perkin's mind, the ending is more positive, apart from the matricide, obviously.

[@pauldobbles679]

This video auto played while I was running. Not looking at my phone 1min 30sec in HUGE SPOILER.

[@dilbyjones]

So cool

[@jacksparrow9227]

She wasn’t any different after her doll was shotgun blasted and why didn’t she just shoot Ruby’s dolls head in the first place?

[@michaelmacaulay7808]

I thought it was because she was the person who was going to close the loop on the rituals. That's why she got the phone call to tell her to go to the party, because she kills everyone, is incredibly plausible in doing so, but letting the evil live. Which is why Nic Cage re-appears at the very end to celebrate the victory.

[@madeofmeats]

She pulls the trigger more than a couple times on the doll but you hear her gun click, she was out of bullets

[@jacksparrow9227]

@@madeofmeats No, she talked to them first when the doll was right there and she could have shot it then, they just wanted to write it to have her parents be killed by her and I guess she adopts her or some shit

[@videojuegos3dlocurasextrem949]

​@@jacksparrow9227That gun has 6 bullets if I remember it well and She shot Carter two times and her mother one. What I got and what I've also seen people say they got from that scene was that the devil was making the Gun fail and that It was useless to try, the gun was going to jam everytime. Sorry if my english was Bad hehe😅!

[@SpideySensei72]

The premise of "this giant doll is a free gift from the church" only makes sense if you were a member of that church. What if they weren't or were Atheists? And how did the mother and Longlegs know what the children looked like beforehand?

[@BabyArms]

The plot is a mess. It's sloppy junk that even the director has pretty obviously barely thought about. The movie is visually appealing. That's about all it has going for it.

[@sevignygirl]

I would say the devil would have given longlegs and the mother visions like how he communicated with lee harker, giving them imagines of what they look like, when to do it etc. theyre like the devils helpers and he probably tells them who he wants to murder. I may be wrong but I think its the most logical

[@arcticwolf6402]

​@@BabyArms "I wasn't paying attention/I didn't figure it out/the movie didn't overexplain and spoon-fed me every single thing, therefore, the plot is a mess."

[@BabyArms]

​@@arcticwolf6402 Not at all. The Blackcoat's Daughter is a masterpiece. When I watch a movie, I drop everything and focus solely on the movie. I love a slow burn that requires me to pay attention. I think there are a lot of thematic elements to Longlegs that are actually pretty cohesive (too much to sit here and spend time typing out in a comment), but the details of the plot itself feel extremely undercooked and unsatisfying to me. And I've watched interviews (and listened to a podcast) with Oz Perkins in which he talks about his approach to storytelling. He's pretty blatant about not caring that much about details or context and sticking to what he calls "elementals." That's fine if that's how he wants to make stuff, and he definitely knows how to put a movie together in terms of tone and visuals, but yeah, the story is deliberately vague, and I don't think it works. It's cool if you enjoyed it. I know it's the internet, but seriously, there's no need to be hostile over movies.

[@chrisswanson877]

My thought would be if only members of this church was receiving these dolls and being murdered, it would have been connected too easily, so the random picking and choosing of a random winning family was easier to make these connections as loose as possible. Plus id assume it would be difficult to try to connect all those birthdays in a small church setting

[@starchildandthenewromantic]

similar rhythm and cadence as questions on Hot Ones

[@joshuat5140]

I gave it 7/10. Oz really had the ability to make a phenomenal film with longlegs character. But the supernatural aspect and not having any story at all really. Theres no explanation and not enough to really figure out on your own. If they went with longlegs being the killer and using him throughout. This film would have been better. Sometimes directors try to make something different and it fails. Not saying this film did. But take Longlegs character and give me david Fincher as director and we would've got a masterpiece.

[@pbickford]

Completely agree. I enjoyed the film because of the creepy aesthetic but it comes so close to being an amazing film and yet misses the mark. More X-Files than Silence of the Lambs. What makes Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill such great characters is their believability. (SPOILER ALERT) Once this went the supernatural route with that weird "Lost"-like black smoke, it ruined the scare factor for me. And how did she know the number of the house in the first neighborhood scene but wasn't smart enough to be ready for something bad to happen. And what was with the scene in the drug store? Great scene with no pay off. Compare that with Anton Chigurh in the gas station. Didn't dislike the movie but it could've been so much better.

[@shaanchaudhry5719]

I loved the supernatural aspect of it, to me it made the film even scarier. Longlegs himself, while creepy looking af, still had a silly/clumsy quality about him. I can’t imagine him just taking a whole bunch of people out on his own and getting away with it.

[@pbickford]

@@shaanchaudhry5719 Yeah, I wanted to see more of him. Definitely an opportunity for a prequel.

[@jennyshoutsrawr]

If you think there’s no explanation for anything, then you really weren’t paying attention. There was so much foreshadowing and hidden messages. Longlegs literally gives away the ending during the interrogation scene.

[@chaoticfangurl567]

I totally agree, I enjoyed this movie but if you gave longlegs to David fincher this could’ve been elevated so much more

[@Leebob]

A class act of a movie

[@samracchumi5315]

That's not really a good reason to name a main character in a movie that is supposed to have so much meaning and symbolism.

[@Greasonn]

I read somewhere that the demon Baal is also named long legs

[@samracchumi5315]

@Greasonn you can easily look it up on Google to see that , that is not true. Plus, if it was true, Perkins would say it's true. No, he just said he made it up because it sounds cool .

[@sevignygirl]

@@samracchumi5315i feel like oz perkins was trying to embody what he felt longlegs was thinking. longlegs was a failed drag rock artist, so characterising him as someone who is obsessed with the 70’s and free/unserious names builds his character more

[@INSTRUMENTALILLNESS]

See this movie everyone! Perfection in film making in everyway at every level.

[@gilpinsteven]

Maika Monroe looks so different now, I barely recognize her.

[@videojuegos3dlocurasextrem949]

Yeah, to think It Follows was 10 years ago, she was so Young but she's as beautiful and as good an actress. I think her performance made the movie (along with NIC haha)!

[@Ashley-fc7kd]

she looks the same to me just slimmer cheeks

[@Cie999]

I LOVE how divisive this movie is. I loved it. I think theres 2 reasons why some people didnt like it. I think the first reason is that it deals with the occult and paranormal. Im thoroughly convinced people who were raised w religious backgrounds write off these movies about the devil almost instantly. It makes them uncomfortable subconsciously. The second reason is people were expecting a conjuring sort of scary movie from Longlegs. Which it is not. This is a long drawn out suspenseful horror with some jumpscares thrown in. I think it was done perfectly. There are definitely some plot holes, but if you’re someone who can look past it and see the movie for what it is, you’ll enjoy it.

[@tacosKebab4]

Why the hell is she wearing suspender in a interview ?? I love that but why the hell ? XD

[@steffnar.509]

It's weird, yeah, too sexual maybe for this kind of event. Maybe it's to promote "Long-legs" 😜

[@Blady99]

Porte-jarretelles

[@alexmuniz9286]

He is just staring at the camera omg

[@PeanutButterAndJellyBros]

Some people talk like that while looking away. I know I do sometimes. It helps me pinpoint my thoughts, but if I'm comfortable, looking at someone while talking is something I can do as well.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

after all the fab reviews, we were disappointed.....its somewhat of a mystery i guess.

[@Lee-lc1fs]

I'm sorry, I like Oz Perkins' movies, but this movie was NOT GOOD. There was no actual way to see the movie the way he explained it from the actual movie we watched. He's projecting his feeling of a great direction of the movie onto the way the audience will see it. I'm sorry, we did not see it the way you did, well, at least I didn't. And Maika seems confused, we saw her literally one time at 9 or so, so where's the pre or post 9 yr old differences 🤣🤣 I was looking forward to seeing Nick Cage's first horror movie besides that vamp movie from the early 90s 😒 But no, I'll stick with my foreign movies with solid plots. Solid twists like A tale of Two Sisters. This felt like watching The Uninvited 😭

[@Red_Black_Key]

COMPLETELY disagree. It was VERY GOOD and gets even better & better once you dive deeper into the rabbit hole of confirming the multi-layerec clues that can only be fully accessed if you interact with the media outside of the movie (on the website) and then do real research into specific points (rock n roll lyrics; biblical quotes; and very detailed parts of Ancient Sumerian religion). Happy Hunting!

[@balladofthebroken7569]

FAVORITE MOVIE OF THE YEAR.

[@bonbons4me]

It’s scary in the way that it’s real. Real sickos. It can happen and it could exist. That’s what was most troubling.

[@alexisgonzalez4167]

Great movie good performances cage deserves an Oscar maika great like always ❤️

[@jacksparrow9227]

I thought Longlegs were the name of the pants he wore

[@jonathanmorales1645]

Long johns lmao

[@niakantina7857]

Pengen tau kisah hidup ferdinand coble alias longlegs

[@jacksparrow9227]

Harker definitely has antisocial behavior

[@BriarPatchNyra]

She comes across far more as autistic.

[@PlagueTHPS]

SPOILIER ALERT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@aliceandfriendsvideos]

It doesn't read as antisocial. It reads as autistic/CPTSD (which have a lot of overlap).

[@JasonDeline]

Huh. Yeah, it seemed to me that Lee was probably about to start murdering as she was under the influence of Ruby's doll..

[@NewWorldOrderx0x1]

Nylons Xenia I can't breathe

[@MrRuff-cc3lg]

That’s it?! There’s no story or plot reason behind his name other than it’s a cool sounding 70s name?! Lame.

[@VictorGarciaFilms]

Well I think there's more meaning that could be gotten from the name, even if this wasn't necessarily Osgood's intention. I think on some minimum level, the name "Longlegs" is obviously meant to evoke the spider type of Daddy Longlegs, and if we take into consideration the fact that the Longlegs killer has lived in the basement of the Harker House for decades, and he has basically seen Lee grow up, in a really fucked up way he sort of sees himself like a father figure...thus, Daddy Longlegs.

[@MrRuff-cc3lg]

@@VictorGarciaFilms I like the Daddy Longlegs! Shame it wasn’t explained in the movie!

[@BriarPatchNyra]

The film was pretty lame as a whole

[@binaryvoid0101]

Well, if you remember in the beginning of the movie, while he’s standing tall with his face out of frame, he says to the little girl, “Sorry, I brought my long legs,” and creepily hunches down to her level bringing his ghoulish face into frame. He was so tall that all the little girl saw was a pair of long adult legs when he approached her. It’s this kind of simplicity that makes it creepy and unsettling. His name essentially creates a forced power dynamic between him and his victims.

[@MrRuff-cc3lg]

@@binaryvoid0101 I can go with that I guess. I maybe I was so petrified of Cage’s performance that I missed that.

[@rebeccaroberts3666]

Worst horror iv ever seen

[@cristinacontreras3562]

Pésima película director. La biblia no es divertida. Ud no es religioso Pero si mete al diablo. Recuerde el diablo fue un angel y ud con su pelicula tan pesima.. Se cree q satanás ganara o gana ahí... Pero esta muy equivocado. La próxima haga una pelicula de valores No de demonios. El diablo existe... Y mire su película pésima.

[@Mariannalivingston999]

This director is just awful, no talent and imagination

[@aloneness3506]

Your movie is one of the worst attempts at horror movie that has ever been screened to the public... You are so lost in your own lack of ability it's hard to watch...pls nobody watch this movie

[@rebeccaroberts3666]

I agree, its very shallow

[@king-tug8464]

This movie wasn't good😂. Atmosphere was perfect but story was extremely convoluted.

[@Rvu72]

Yep, such a shame

[@theladiesmanou812]

Yes it was very good. Also... 😂😂

[@danbluehz20]

Watch it again

[@Gaminating]

I don’t see what was very convoluted. Spelled out everything pretty well by the end

[@levischorpioen]

I stopped listening to the dialogue 40 minutes in. Made for an even better experience as I knew it was going to be about the atmosphere and visuals.

[@jasonchrobak870]

This movie should be used in film making classes to illustrate what never to do when trying to tell a story. Very disjointed. Transgender nick cage was a comical mess. When I wasn’t asleep I was thinking of original horror movies like The Omen,the exorcist and Seven and wondered with all the examples of how to do horror right did this dumpster fire get green lit for production. There was some interesting cinematography, looked like a b horror movie from the 70’s.

[@dajmasta94]

I swear this is the most overrated movie of the year

[@dr6889]

not great when the director starts explaining his movie with "i think". where are the directors with complete grasp of their vision and world theyve created?

[@BabyArms]

Yeah, Perkins all but says he barely put any thought into this story. Really such a letdown.

[@Sunnysideup01]

What a stupid movie

[@Tan92lfc]

Maika Monroe Show your Body

[@Bootricia]

Wtf

[@MadameCharcutier]

What did she say at the end, her very last sentence in the movie? For some reason both my friend and I didn’t understand it! 🫣